When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they’ll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. OurPrivacy Noticeexplains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Rail passengers face a month of festive travel chaos after South Western Railway staff voted for 27 days of walkouts in December.

The ongoing dispute between the rail union RMT and bosses at the company over the role of the guard on trains is showing no signs of being resolved, and now staff will be on strike for most of the festive period.

The union says South Western Railway's (SWR) "unremitting failure" to give assurances its new model won't move to Driver Controlled Operation, has led to the latest set of walkouts.

Read More

Related Articles

What the RMT says

RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said: “Our members have been left with no choice but to call a further 27 days of strike action on South Western Railway.

“At the last meeting we held with SWR principles in agreements were made in good faith with the company’s negotiating team and we now feel hugely let down again.

"As long as the company continues to refuse to give assurances on the future operational role of the guard we will remain in dispute.

“I want to congratulate our members on their continued resolve in their fight for safety and the role of the guard on SWR. It is wholly down to the management side that the core issue of the safety critical competencies and the role of the guard has not been agreed.

Berkshire Traffic and Travel

What SWR says about the proposed strike action

A South Western Railway spokesperson said: “We are extremely disappointed that the RMT union has once again called for their members to take disruptive industrial action.

"The deliberate targeting of services up to, and during, the Christmas period is typical of the lack of concern the RMT continue to have for our customers.

"The RMT has always said it wanted us to keep the guard on every train.

"That is what we have offered as part of a framework agreement if the RMT work with us to agree a method of operation for our new trains which fully utilises the new technology to improve safety, security and accessibility as well as day-to-day performance.

"Instead the RMT appear purely focused on keeping control of train doors in a misguided attempt to hold power over the industry.

Read More

Related Articles

“Whilst we have shown commitment to the role of the guard by introducing over 80 additional guard roles since the start of our franchise, the RMT do not have the long-term interests of either our customers or our colleagues, including their members, at the heart of their actions.

“We remain committed to finding a solution that will help us build a better railway for everyone.

"We will do everything we can to keep customers moving during strike action.”